Touch is the 3rd biggest participation sport in Australia and in a country that lives and breathes sport that really does say something! The game of Touch does not rely on physical strength and is a minimal contact sport. The emphasis is on running, agility, catching and passing skills. It is a therefore a fantastic sport for kids to play. Girls and boys can train together and until the teenage years can often compete together. It is a fast but fun game, and therefore a great way for kids to be physically fit while having loads of fun. Because a lot of the skills acquired in Touch are generic it is a fantastic sport to use as a transition or as cross-training for other sports.
Another of the great benefits of Touch is that it is truly a sport for all. At an international level men and women play as equal partners in Mixed teams or in Men’s and Women’s teams. At the next World Cup in Edinburgh 2011 honours will be contested up to the Over 45s age grade. This is a sport that can be played by families and friends together and for many, many years!
Touch is simple to play only requiring some space, a ball and some markers. Some of the rules are quite technical but the basic rules are very simple and can easily be taught. It is a sport that can easily be incorporated into the school sport programme or into existing rugby clubs.
If you are interested in playing Touch look at our website and see if the local clubs and leagues are offering Youth Touch. If there is not anything near you, why don’t you speak to your parents, teachers or coaches about starting a Touch club? If you are interested in starting Touch in your school or club England Touch can send out a team of expert coaches to do a Taster day.
Please contact :Â Taryn@englandtouch.org.uk
13 teams representing a range of schools and clubs took to the field on a sunny October morning at Fort Pitt Grammar School for Girls.
In the Under 9 category Wainscott Primary – Strood, St Marys Island – Chatham, Kingfisher – Walderslade and a Barbarian Team from St Andrews School – Rochester, Miers Court – Rainham, English St Martyrs – Strood) and St Augustines – Rainham all played each other with the 3rdand 4thplaying in the plate final and 1stand 2ndplaying in the cup final. St Marys saw off Kingfisher in the plate final and Wainscott got the better of the Barbarian team in the cup final. The only difference between the sides was the double points awarded to a female Wainscott player who scored.
In the Under 11 category again Wainscott, St Marys Island and Kingfisher were represented. They were also joined by a full St Andrews team. The plate final was a repeat of the Under 9’s with St Marys taking the spoils in cup final Wainscott again just edged a win against St Andrews.
The Under 13’s and open was more of a development competition. Chatham Grammar School for Boys and Rochester Grammar School for Girls entered an Under 17 team, Fort Pitt Grammar School – Chatham entered both an Under 13 and 17 team and a Barbarian team was made up of players from The Maths School – Rochester, Oakland School – Maidstone and volunteer players from the other schools. All sides played each other with mixed results. They also benefited from coach mentoring and support throughout the day from England Touch Vice President Paul Farrington. Fort Pitt U17’s were drawn against RGS U17’s in the plate final. This was a closer match than the previous game but Fort Pitt ended up winners 1-0. In the cup final Chatham Grammar took on the Barbarian team. Chatham reversed the result of the previous match that morning and ran out 3-1 winners.
Additional “Spirit of Touch†awards were also presented to Fort Pitt Under 13’s and Rochester Grammar School Under 17’s. Jodie Hope from Fort Pitt and Kiera Buckley from RGS were also presented with England Touch playing shirts by Paul Farrington as most improved female players. Two girls from Fort Pitt were also invited to attend trials for England Touch in Amersham on Saturday 9thOctober.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Youtube
You must be logged in to post a comment.